Romanian F-16 shoots down explosive drone over Black Sea

A Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jet has destroyed an explosive-laden naval drone flying toward the Neptun Deep offshore gas field in the Black Sea, Defense Minister Radu Miratu confirmed on Thursday. Miratu emphasized that the drone did not originate from Ukraine, pointing responsibility toward Russia.

President Nicosur Dan blamed Moscow directly, writing on X that he strongly condemned the "escalation of such irresponsible incidents by the Russian Federation." He described the F-16 mission as a "race against time" to protect the lives of the hundreds of workers on the offshore platform.

Neptun Deep and the Black Sea front

Neptun Deep is one of the largest untapped gas reserves in the European Union and is scheduled to begin production in 2027. Bucharest sees the project as a pillar of European energy independence from Russian supplies. According to the Romanian government, several hundred people are currently working on the platform.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also reacted to the incident, denouncing what she called an "escalating campaign of intimidation" against EU member states. Hybrid warfare, she warned, is unsettling Europeans and is aimed at "dividing our Union." She did not name the party she holds responsible.

A pattern across NATO's eastern flank

Drone incidents have multiplied along NATO's eastern border since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. Romania has repeatedly recorded overflights and crash landings on its territory, and Poland and the Baltic states report similar incidents.

Concern grew further after an explosive drone was discovered at Leipzig Airport in Germany in early August, inside the secure freight area near several Ukrainian cargo aircraft. The airport serves as a hub for military aid shipments to Kyiv. Read more about the war and diplomacy shaping Europe's response.